Both of my parents have arthritis. Is there anything I can do now to prevent having it myself one day?

May 17, 2012

Charlie, Bozeman, MT asked:

Both of my parents have arthritis. Is there anything I can do now to prevent having it myself one day?

Answer:

Absolutely. Your joints' cartilage can break down over time if you don't give them TLC. First, eat a healthy diet to prevent excess weight from stressing your joints. A well-rounded exercise program is also key. A lot of guys fear that exercise will worsen arthritis and may even give it up. Bad move: Exercise can strengthen the muscles around your joints and, as long as you don't overdo it, help stave off arthritis or slow its progression. So mix it up and cross-train; you want to stay active without placing repetitive stress on any one joint.

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